Realtime GPS Tracking - General Questions and Answers

Hi,
My wife is running the London Marathon this weekend. I'm not. But... I am going to see her off and meet her at the finishing line. Herein lies my problem. SWMBO has got a Desire, I need her to be running with Android app that will allow realtime GPS tracking, so myself (HD2 NAND) and family at home (internet browser) can follow her progress.
Options so far:
Latitude
Gylmpse
RunKeeper w/ elite subscription ($4.99 pm)
The problem with Latitude is that it doesnt seem to perform realtime updates. 15-30 minutes have passed without updating when testing; this isnt acceptable.
Glympse's only shortfall is that the max time is 4hrs. The wifes fit and will probably finish a little while after 4hrs. I dont want her to have to mess about reconfiguring settings at such a late stage into the race though.
Not yet signed upto RunKeeper Elite; not able to comment on it.
Does anyone else have any reccomendations?
Thank you

You can try OruxMaps to see if that suits your needs. It can upload live tracking to MapMyTracks.com.
OruxMaps can use live maps (e.g. Google Maps) as well as offline maps. However, it was not obvious how to do live tracking. You must first start "normal" tracking. Then, press MENU and select the "hidden" LIVE TRACKING in TOOLS menu. (The Live Tracking option does NOT appear unless you're already in tracking mode.)

Thanks - will try out!

You can always use seekdroid! it hasn't real time tracking but everytime you press locate it will give you the other phone's location based on GPS on that device.
Try it out

Related

Want free GPS program to track me while skiing?

I am looking for a free GPS program for my FUZE that will just simply track distance and possibly speed. I currently have a stock ATT ROM and am not opposed to a new ROM, just haven't quite got to that comfort level yet. Yes, I am a newbie and have only installed about 6 cabs. My GPS seems to be working fine with google maps.
Hard12kill said:
I am looking for a free GPS program for my FUZE that will just simply track distance and possibly speed. I currently have a stock ATT ROM and am not opposed to a new ROM, just haven't quite got to that comfort level yet. Yes, I am a newbie and have only installed about 6 cabs. My GPS seems to be working fine with google maps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the (type of) app you're after is usualy refered to as a tracer. IE, it traces your route.. and logs it to a file. Some you can load into a map app and "play it back."
Googling that term should net you some results.
Thanks Alex i will try that.
Try BeelineGPS. It records the track and it can be exported as well to csv/gpx/kml file. Even it seems to be a 30day trial,it is working also after trial without limitations. Its freeware. I use it for geocaching all the time successful.
GPS today should be able to log it (I've used the logging feature.)
Its a total battery hog. Also, background GPS logging means the device has to be powered on, screen on. You'll need a screen lock. And about 10 extra batteries
Use TrackMe - works very well, creates a KML file you can view on Google Earth.
Don't think it calculates total distance, but it does show speed.
GPS Cycle Computer found on Diamond forum is also very good. It has an option to turn off the screen and keep logging.
But expect the battery to last no more than 3 hours.
Garmin XT will save a file in their standard format (plenty of online sources and directly to Google maps for manipulation/presentation) is a free download from the Garmin site.

route tracker ??

Hi i hope some can answer this question for me please ..
i do a lot of mountain biking ,mostly in out of the way places.
is there an application for the polaris that can show me where i have been
(ie: started here,went there ,and followed this route)
and for it to saved and shown as a map for future runs.
i have tomtom and navigon but they dont do what i need.
thanks for any help
Hi, I'm not sure if this do exactly what you want but look at it
http://www.locify.com ...
I use a piece of software called t-gps. It logs your travels and then you can upload them to google maps afterwards. I have not tried it yet but it look like you can also load topographical maps into the software.
GPS Cycle Computer
I recommend GPS Cycle Computer. It tracks the points where you have been, also has a feature to turnoff the display (to save battery) and to set up how often do you want to take measurments on the location.
Later on you can save the file in to KMZ to open it with Google Earth...
It is free, you can find it at: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/
juanmre said:
I recommend GPS Cycle Computer. It tracks the points where you have been, also has a feature to turnoff the display (to save battery) and to set up how often do you want to take measurments on the location.
Later on you can save the file in to KMZ to open it with Google Earth...
It is free, you can find it at: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also recommend it
You can see in this same forum: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=424423
HTH
thanks guys,
i will give them a try,and let you know how i got on after a 20 mile run

Is there Live Tracking Software?

I'm looking for live tracking software. Something that shows the location of another phone on a moving map. I know that there are tons of apps to send coordinates via sms or show it on a web site. What I am looking for is software that shows the other phones location on a map just like a navigation program shows your location. I am assuming that it would use a data connection and that's fine I have unlimited on all three phones. It would be extra cool if it would show my location too. I remember seeing commercials where older (non-PPC phones) would do this.
PS. pay or freeware, it doesn't matter.
try glympse its free, you can find it on marketplace or http://www.glympse.com/ this seems like what your looking for. it works great, you can send a glympse to anyone and they can see you live as your move. It works best when you load the link using skyfire so you can see the actual website version . But if the other person has glympse installed they can see you move in real time that way too.
I haven't used it, but from what I've read, Google LATITUDE will do that.
SecretAgentMan said:
I haven't used it, but from what I've read, Google LATITUDE will do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
latitude only sends updated gps information every 2 minutes. glympes send out information in real time and also tells you how fast the person your tracking in mph
i use GPSToday from geoterrestrial.com, depending on your settings and the availability of a cell signal you can update at 1 minute intervals with a fairly high degree of accuracy. i enjoy having my wife track me from home as im out roaming about.
ottomatic28 said:
i enjoy having my wife track me from home as im out roaming about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rescu2000 said:
I'm looking for live tracking software. Something that shows the location of another phone on a moving map. I know that there are tons of apps to send coordinates via sms or show it on a web site. What I am looking for is software that shows the other phones location on a map just like a navigation program shows your location. I am assuming that it would use a data connection and that's fine I have unlimited on all three phones. It would be extra cool if it would show my location too. I remember seeing commercials where older (non-PPC phones) would do this.
PS. pay or freeware, it doesn't matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try GPSToday (free)
http://www.geoterrestrial.com/
or download straight to your device at http://m.geoterrestrial.com/
After installation you can create a private group from one phone, and invite the other 2 phones to join it. Then all 3 phones can see each others location on the map and also share points of interest/pictures etc, privately.
The group map can also be viewed on the desktop after logging in at the website.
Another GPStoday user here. It also Geotags your photos and you can write log files.
SecretAgentMan said:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Maps Latitude tracks everybody I have on my friend's list and I use CoPilot Navigator 8 and it has the capability of sending via text right down to the coordinates your location; good enough for me!

Recommended GPS Navigation Software

I Recommend Sygic Aura , looks great , runs smooth as well
You can download it free and trial it for 7 days.
When you first run the app you download (via wifi) your needed maps to your Memory/SD Card
http://www.sygic.com/index.php/en/how-to-buy.html
Navigon seems to be pretty good. You can get it for free in some cases if your SIM ID is one recognised as being eligible (Telstra AU works to get the Australia/NZ version). Otherwise it's 50 euro or somesuch.
the standard one seems to work perfectly
I am using Co Pilot Live. Its amazing..
kormath said:
I am using Co Pilot Live. Its amazing..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
CoPilot is really great )
The new maps 5.0 are is far away the best
Yes, the new Google Maps Navigation with maps 5.0 is awesome. I have a fairly new (last year) standalone Navigon Device in my car, but the Google Nav beats it hands down.
Except, of course, when you leave your service area or otherwise lose your data connection, at which point Google Nav simply stops working altogether.
ResonanceZero said:
Except, of course, when you leave your service area or otherwise lose your data connection, at which point Google Nav simply stops working altogether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not any more. Since that last update it caches quite a bit, I think. Drove to my parents in the mountains of eastern Switzerland over Christmas and never once had it stop working, even though there's some pretty decent sized areas without good coverage along the way.
Hrm. I'll have to give it another test, then. I had abysmal luck with it, but that was before the 5.0 release.
I thought you cannot get the new navigation (direction) when you are offline with map 5.0. I like cache feature but I would like offline navigation, especially when I travel Canada where I have to pay roaming if I want to use data.
I use Navigon and its great with all maps on SD. It also integrates google search as a bonus, and its free in Aus and NZ for Gtab and Galaxy S.
Question about Google Navigation cache:
If you set it to cache in settings and then plan a route ie, at home using wifi, does that mean you can turn off data in your car and it will still navigate that route?
Do you think it will soon be possible to DL (cache?) a whole town or city?, or even Country? If so it will make all other Navigation software practically obsolete.
I played with this a little today. There doesn't appear to be any way to control the cache size or behavior in the settings (other than clearing it), but I set up both a short and a long route and then simulated a disconnect and kept browsing. To my surprise, even the detail maps that I had previously inspected were retained, though of course any area I hadn't previously examined closely remained blurry when I passed over it. Out of curiosity, I turned the satellite layer on and even got a few tiles of that out of the cache.
Pre-caching map-only (non-satellite) view for an entire city at fine detail is perfectly possible, and a long-distance overview (I tried an east coast to west coast route) will also stay in cache, as long as you're careful to let every on-screen tile load at the desired zoom level before swiping onward. I'm not sure how much satellite data you can shoehorn in before it starts dropping things, though. I need to keep playing with it.
check out waze its a sochial gps and free
its only as good as the users make it but in areas where there are allot of users its very good
www.waze.com or market
PS works also on other platforms not just android
ResonanceZero said:
I played with this a little today. There doesn't appear to be any way to control the cache size or behavior in the settings (other than clearing it), but I set up both a short and a long route and then simulated a disconnect and kept browsing. To my surprise, even the detail maps that I had previously inspected were retained, though of course any area I hadn't previously examined closely remained blurry when I passed over it. Out of curiosity, I turned the satellite layer on and even got a few tiles of that out of the cache.
Pre-caching map-only (non-satellite) view for an entire city at fine detail is perfectly possible, and a long-distance overview (I tried an east coast to west coast route) will also stay in cache, as long as you're careful to let every on-screen tile load at the desired zoom level before swiping onward. I'm not sure how much satellite data you can shoehorn in before it starts dropping things, though. I need to keep playing with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your saying aslong as you dont clear the cache any maps that youve seen will stay there?
What a tedious task tho to browse an entire state lol
Well, obviously you can't grow beyond your available space (which is forced to be the internal sdcard and cannot be moved to the external sdcard), and I suspect Google Maps will start trimming much earlier than that, but I'm currently caching 109MB worth of map images on Google Maps, and everything I've looked at so far has stuck.
It would indeed be quite tedious to manually browse an entire state, but I'm guessing it would be somewhat less so to browse in detail just the towns around a planned route. It may be possible to use Mobile Atlas Creator to pre-cache tiles on a desktop computer and then transfer them to the sdcard, but I'd have to spend some time investigating it.
The Google Maps cache is stored in /sdcard/Android/data/com.google.android.apps.maps/cache, and has filenames somewhat like "cache_vts_GMM.6".
As a followup to this, after more testing it appears that the cache size is locked at 120MB. Once I get up to that point, it deletes out 5-10MB. I *think* it's preferentially culling satellite imagery over maps, but I'm not absolutely sure. To be safe, if you're prepping for a long trip, do your browsing with all layers turned off.
I am in Finland, and my tabs Google Maps Navigation is not yet available in this location. Very disappointing.
I have downloaded Waze, but found that there aren't enough user's over here as yet, so the roads are non-existent. Also the map editing program is rubbish, and I haven't figured out how I can get the updated information onto my Tab?
Found a few other so called free one's on the android market, one called NDrive, but first it want's to install a huge amount of data and then they want me to buy the maps (which probably is another horrendous amount of data).
I am really disappointed though that the Google Maps Navigation doesn't work. That was one thing why I bought the tab, as I don't have a sat nav in my car. Does anyone know of any solutions?
You should try Copilot - works really good on Tab. Also Aura works well, but Copilot has better routing.
In fact it works great on Galaxy Tab, eventuali though so dos google navigator

Copilot live 8 usa

Does anyone on here use COPILOT LIVE 8 USA? I have some issues and I wonder if anyone else can add some comments as to how to resolve? I have sent these to COPILOT SUPPORT but no response yet.. I am hoping to get all of these resolved:
1. I am alerted that I am at my destination BEFORE I actually get there. It also doesn’t tell me LEFT or right or ahead is my destination. Can this be resolved?
2. I tested 2 addresses today with COPILOT and a GARMIN GPS. The Garmin was dead on while COPILOT was lost and had be going in circles. This was while I was in a development with a LOT of little side streets. Can this be fixed?
3. when you get to your destination, it doesn’t give you the option to CLEAR the route. It asks me what I want to do but if I close the BOX, since I don’t want to do any of that, it keeps the route I am on. I noticed this as I use COPILOT to get home. Then today, I turned on copilot and it still said it was running the route to my house. I couldn’t find any way to clear it except to delete next stop. Then it cleared the route. I also see no way to click CANCEL ROUTE if you decide you don’t want to navigate to where you set. My Garmin has an "X" that I can hit to cancel route.
4. Program is missing a LOT of POI's .. For instance, I was sitting in a parking lot of WAL-MART which has been there for many years. It didn’t know this Wal-Mart existed. It did know about other ones nearby but not this one. Same with TARGET, I was sitting in a target parking lot and it didn’t know target was there.
5. Routing is wrong on some trips.. Sometimes it will tell me to turn left when you can't or when LEFT is the completely wrong way to go. How to fix?
6. I entered in SPEED TRAP DATA but it NEVER alerts me to any of them. I said YES to the fact I was importing SPEED TRAP data but it never did anything.. MEANWHILE, my Garmin did alert me.
7. It would be nice if I could pull addresses out of my EVO 4G address book so I don’t have to re-type them in and also if you could do voice entry of the data Like GOOGLE and SPRINT navigation already do.
8. It appears the maps are SEVERAL YEARS out of date. How do I get updated maps?
9. If I want to select a POI to travel to... I select the category, then pick my POI or type in the name.. Lets say WALMART. Then I find the walmart but then decide that wasn’t what I wanted. I then hit my back arrow on my phone and select a different category or maybe just type in a different name of a POI. When I then search for the new one, it brings me to the orig category and POI and NOT the new one. I have to completely back out back the main screen of copilot and then start over with finding a POI. I have to do this every time..
I hope someone can help resolve these issues... Thanks...
1. CoPilot alerts you with an audible alert slightly before the exact destination. I don't know why. But there is no fix for it, as I doubt they consider it a problem. CoPilot does not tell you that the destination is on the left or right. If you look closely on the map though for the destination flag, it will be drawn on the left or right side of the road. You can tell from that.
2. Read the review in the Android Market and Apple App Store for ALK's products in the US. ALK' maps are notoriously bad and out of date. They try and do their maps in-house instead of buying them from Navteq or TeleAtlas. As a result, customers suffer, but you also pay less.
3. ALK has known about this issue for a LONG time. I personally have sent the issue to them a year ago. The only way to cancel the route is to select the "remove next waypoint" option, or something to that effect, don't recall the exact name.
4. Same issue as the maps. They are bad. Try using the Google Search instead of the POI search within the app.
5. Buy a different app. The maps are bad, these are the repercussions of that.
6. Traffic camera alert functionality works. I have used it in the past. Don't say what you did wrong, but that function does work.
7. Don't hold your breath.
8. You don't. The maps are what they are. You can submit errors and they will correct them within 45 days supposedly. But when you are starting with maps as bad as they are, you'd be submitting problems every time you use the product.
9. Can't help you with that one.
dahauss said:
Does anyone on here use COPILOT LIVE 8 USA? I have some issues and I wonder if anyone else can add some comments as to how to resolve? I have sent these to COPILOT SUPPORT but no response yet.. I am hoping to get all of these resolved:
1. I am alerted that I am at my destination BEFORE I actually get there. It also doesn’t tell me LEFT or right or ahead is my destination. Can this be resolved?
2. I tested 2 addresses today with COPILOT and a GARMIN GPS. The Garmin was dead on while COPILOT was lost and had be going in circles. This was while I was in a development with a LOT of little side streets. Can this be fixed?
3. when you get to your destination, it doesn’t give you the option to CLEAR the route. It asks me what I want to do but if I close the BOX, since I don’t want to do any of that, it keeps the route I am on. I noticed this as I use COPILOT to get home. Then today, I turned on copilot and it still said it was running the route to my house. I couldn’t find any way to clear it except to delete next stop. Then it cleared the route. I also see no way to click CANCEL ROUTE if you decide you don’t want to navigate to where you set. My Garmin has an "X" that I can hit to cancel route.
4. Program is missing a LOT of POI's .. For instance, I was sitting in a parking lot of WAL-MART which has been there for many years. It didn’t know this Wal-Mart existed. It did know about other ones nearby but not this one. Same with TARGET, I was sitting in a target parking lot and it didn’t know target was there.
5. Routing is wrong on some trips.. Sometimes it will tell me to turn left when you can't or when LEFT is the completely wrong way to go. How to fix?
6. I entered in SPEED TRAP DATA but it NEVER alerts me to any of them. I said YES to the fact I was importing SPEED TRAP data but it never did anything.. MEANWHILE, my Garmin did alert me.
7. It would be nice if I could pull addresses out of my EVO 4G address book so I don’t have to re-type them in and also if you could do voice entry of the data Like GOOGLE and SPRINT navigation already do.
8. It appears the maps are SEVERAL YEARS out of date. How do I get updated maps?
9. If I want to select a POI to travel to... I select the category, then pick my POI or type in the name.. Lets say WALMART. Then I find the walmart but then decide that wasn’t what I wanted. I then hit my back arrow on my phone and select a different category or maybe just type in a different name of a POI. When I then search for the new one, it brings me to the orig category and POI and NOT the new one. I have to completely back out back the main screen of copilot and then start over with finding a POI. I have to do this every time..
I hope someone can help resolve these issues... Thanks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Is there any app like copilot live usa that works? I love the features of copilot over google and sprint navigation. actually it would be nice if I could find and app similar to copilot and my garmin rolled into one.
Sent from my EVO4G using Tapatalk.
What about the navigon app?
edit- apparently navigon is also bad. is there any good paid navigation app?
Sent from my EVO4G using Tapatalk.
I wouldn't say that Navigon is bad. It is just very v1.0 as far as features goes. Biggest issue is that there is no app2sd. It is Navteq data so it is as good as it gets from that perspective. They have yet to announce a map update policy either.
dahauss said:
What about the navigon app?
edit- apparently navigon is also bad. is there any good paid navigation app?
Sent from my EVO4G using Tapatalk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it work in USA? I dont see USA maps talked abut on their site..
Yes, Navigon has a US app.
tried Navigon and it stinks. WHILE the maps and routing is better and traffic seems to be included, its missing a lot of things that copilot does.. the POI icons on navigon and the map as so small you cant read anything while driving. AND in 3D mode, there are NO STREET NAMES. You also can not see a list of directions so you do not know what route is is taking you on. It DOES have some nice features though, but NOT at $61.00 .. My issue now, is trying to get a refund since it took almost 2 hours to download maps which is more then the 15 minute time limit. In fact, once I tested the program for 10 minutes driving I decided COPILOT, even with some of its flaws is better ... M probably have to call credit card company to get refund...
is there ANY program that is worthy of buying for a navigation program? or do I stick to my old garmin?
Your main options are Google Navigation, CoPilot, Navigon or Sprint Navigation. I've used them all. I also have a Garmin 885t and a TomTom 740 Live. I've owned about 6 other devices over the years. I can tell you that Google Navigation is my primary GPS at this point. I like it a lot. I miss nothing from my Garmin. I only miss the ability to detour specific segments of the route from TomTom. I miss nothing from Sprint Navigation. I deleted Navigon. It took way too much room and didn't have app2sd. I have CoPilot installed as a backup should I not have a connection to use Google Navigation. I will remove it and reinstall Navigon if it ever gets app2sd.
im rooted so I was able to put NAVIGON on the SD card. I just dont like some things, which I mentioned. Im actually trying another program that has a 7 day trial and is free from the market for the trial. Its called AURA. it says it uses the latest TOM TOM MAPS.. I ASSUME they are up to date. it also has traffic and other stuff.. Looks good on the web sites BUT I havent tested it yet as I am downloading some of the maps. this program also supports APP2SD without the trick I did for navigon..
so I am playing with AURA but It appears it doesnt speak street names.. thats a deal breaker... I have a support request in to see if it actually does this. I hope it does. it is one heck of a nice program... IM using the USA version
EDIT: Looks like it doesnt speak street names.. I have a support question to ask about this. This program would be AWESOME if it did. its got the NEWEST TOM TOM MAPS and it does almost everything I want. the NON SPEAKING STREET NAMES is a DEAL BREAKER.. I hope they answer my question and fix that issue...

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